Greeley veterans use giant pumpkins to raise funds for veteran support groups

Dan Kendall, left, takes a seat next to Sotirios Gatsiopoulos and the massive pumpkin that is part of a fundraiser for local veterans at the Key Largo Lounge, 3621 W 10th St., in Greeley. (Joshua Polson/jpolson@greeleytribune.com)

It all started over beers at the Key Largo Lounge during a Broncos game a couple years ago.

One of Dan Kendall’s friends mentioned fundraising for U.S. military veterans. As veterans themselves, they know how important services are that Veterans Affairs, Veterans of Foreign Wars and other organizations provide.

“I said, ‘I’ll cut my hair for $1,000,'” Kendall said with a laugh.

Once the idea was planted, Kendall and many of the bar’s patrons, with the support of owner Sotirios Gatsiopoulos, have been fundraising every year for organizations that provide services for veterans.

Dan Kendall leans against one of the massive pumpkins that are part of a fundraiser on Monday while at the Key Largo Lounge, 3621 10th St., in Greeley. (Joshua Polson/jpolson@greeleytribune.com)

“We have a lot of vets here, so we hear a lot of horror stories,” Gatsiopoulos said. “We’re helping any way we can.”

For the past three years, they’ve been growing Atlantic Giant Pumpkins. Kendall’s son started it, he said, in his back yard, and now the whole group of friends that frequents Key Largo Lounge are addicted to seeing how big they can grow.

Matt Fritzler took over the pumpkin growing this year, Kendall said, because he has access to more space. Like other plants, they need plenty of water, fertilizer and sunlight, but they also need a bit more room to grow than the $25 20-pounders at the supermarket.

Patrons, or those who just want to see the pumpkins, can stop by Key Largo Lounge during business hours and see the four pumpkins. For $5, they can guess the pumpkins’ combined weight, or for $10, they can have three guesses. The winners with the two closest guesses get to take the biggest ones home.

The first year’s winner, Kendall said, had to use a chainsaw to cut his pumpkin into a jack-o’-lantern because its outer walls were so thick.

“It takes four grown men to carry one,” he said.

To guess

To guess the combined weight of the giant pumpkins at Key Largo Lounge and contribute to the fundraiser for local veterans, go to the lounge any time between 11 a.m. and 2 a.m. Sunday-Saturday, 3621 10th St No. 1, Greeley. The winners with the two closest guesses — at $5 for one guess and $10 for three — will get to take a pumpkin home. Winners will be announced at the lounge Oct. 27, and on the Key Largo Lounge Facebook page.

Last year, the group gave $1,100 to the Evans VFW, $1,200 to the VFW in Garden City, and $1,200 to the American Legion in Windsor, Kendall said, which will go to emergency funds for veterans who need money to get home or to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Cheyenne, Wyo.

Kendall practically bounces when he talks about the group’s efforts. They’re basically like the characters in “Cheers,” he said, the 1980s-90s sitcom that takes place in a bar.

“Everybody knows everybody,” he said.

Many of the bar’s regular patrons are veterans, and one of the bartenders is active duty. The patrons who aren’t veterans like to help out too, Kendall said, almost more enthusiastically sometimes.